Electrically operated player for bass drums



Feb. 11, 1958 M. SLAWIENSKI 2,822,717

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PLAYER FOR BASS DRUMS Filed Dec. 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l g INVENTOR.

A T TOENEY United States Patent 2,822,717 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PLAYER FOR BASS DRUMS Mike Slawienski, Philadelphia, Pa. Application December 2 1, 1953, Serial No. 399,245 1 Claim. (Cl. s t- 422)" My invention relates to a new and useful electrically operated player for bass drums and one'of the objects is to produce-an electro-mechanical device of this-character whereb bothmanual playing and foot actuated mechanical playing apparatus can be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is'to produce a compact and portable apparatus which is located adjacent the head of a bass drum and electrically operated for beating the drum over long periods of time sothat the-drummer can conserve his strength and be free to play other iiis'tluln'ent's.

Another object of the present inventionis to provide a playerof the character mentioned with adjustable means whereby said player can perform a seriesof single beats in preselected periods of time so that the beats are relativ'ely far apart or slow and also can preform a series of double beats in the same aforementioned periods of time so that the last mentioned beats are relatively close together or fast and the time periods regulated according to the tempo desired, thus with the single beats playing times can be 3/4 or 6/4 and the like whereas with the double beats the playing times can be 2/4 or 4/4 and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of resilient drum sticks swingingly mounted at their lower ends: and spring. actuated outwardly in combinationwith mechanism for individually retracting and substantially immediately releasing said drum sticks in variable preselect'ed periods of time, the resilient character of said drunr sticks permitting them to be flexed inwardly for packing Within a suitable case holding and forming a part of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for retracting either or both of the drum sticks in an inoperative position temporarily whereby, in particular, either stick may be held inactive, while the other is performing the drum beating operations.

A further objectof the invention is to provide electric motor driven mechanism for imparting oscillations to the drum sticks, said mechanism including means for regulating the speed of the stick oscillations and an indicator to show the speed of said stick oscillations.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a case including a base on which the apparatus mechanism is installed, and a cover having openings within which the drum sticks operate during employment of the device for playing a drum, said openings being normally closed by doors.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe its construction in detail referring my numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention showing its position in relation to a drum, a portion of which is depicted, and

2,822,717 Patented Feb. 11, 1958 2. illustrating;in'dottedlines the positionof the drum sticks when packed for transportation.

Fig. 2 isa top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device with the cover removed from the base.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig; 6 is an enlarged detail section of the speed regulator or changer on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on'the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 10 represents a suitable case including a base or bottom member 11 to-which is removably attached a top or cover member 12- by means of appropriate catches 13 comprised of coacting elements mounted on said bottom and top members.

On the bottom member 11 is fixedly assembled a foundation 14 on which, at one end thereof, is mounted an electric motor 15 provided with an appropriate conductor cord 1'6to be plugged into any outlet and said cordmay have a switch interposed therein as is well known.

The motor is provided with a worm 17 meshing with a: worm gear 18 on a counter shaft 19 having a sprocket wheel 20 on the outer end of the latter and said shaft 19 is journalled in suitable bearings 21 at the inner end of the motor.

A sprocket chain 22 runs on the sprocket wheel 20 and a larger sprocket Wheel 23 fixed to the driven shaft 24, crosswise of the foundation or at right angles to the motor shaft, journalled in appropriate bearings 25 mounted on said foundation. These sprockets reducethe speed of the driven shaft.

Also fixed on said driven. shaft 24 is a cone pulley 26 in, cooperative relation to a companion cone pulley 27 reverse to the first one and mounted on a second cross shaft 28 journalled in bearings 29 on the foundation 14. A shiftable belt 30 encircles both cone pulleys in order to drive the second cone pulley 27 from the first cone pulley 26 at variable speeds according to the position of the shiftable belt 30.

A belt shifting means includes a fork 31 embracing the belt 30 movable longitudinally of the conesby a screw 32 journalled in bearings 33 whereby it may revolve but is held against longitudinal movements. The outer end of said screw projects beyond the plane of the exterior surface of one side of the bottom and has an operating knob 34 thereon. The belt shifting fork 31 has a pointer 35 thereon for coaction with a scale, to be presently described, to indicate the movements of the belt shifter.

Adjacent the shaft 28 and parallel therewith is aplayer shaft 36 having its ends journalled in bearings 37 mounted on the foundation 14 and on said shaft 36 to revolve therewith are two discs or wheels 38, 39 at least one of which, as 39, is fashioned to constitute a pulley and in line with the wheel 39 is a grooved pulley 40 at the base end of the cone 27. A belt 81 runs over the grooved pulley 40 and the wheel 39 for transmitting motion to the player shaft and both wheels thereon.

On the inner face of the wheel 39 are two diametrically opposite trunnions 41 and on the inner face of. the

wheel 38 is a single trunnion 42 in angular relation toat 51, Fig. 5, and the opposite end adjustably attached to its respective stick in any appropriate manner for regu lating the tension of the individual springs. As an example, the upper ends of said springs may be attached to brackets 52 which are adjustably mounted on, thedrum sticks or the structure reversed and the bracketsfixed in position and the upper spring ends adjustably connected to said brackets. a 7

To temporarily hold either of the drum sticks in an inoperative position a pull means 53 is provided for each of said sticks and one end of each pull means is attached to a lug 54 on each stick and runs under guides 55 and through notches 56 in an end of the bottom case or cabinet member 11 for connection to pins 57 on the end wall of the top or cover 12 of the case opposite the sticks when said sticks are to be retracted.

The top or cover member 12 rests on the upper edges of the bottom member 11 and in one side of said top member is an inverted L-shaped slot 58, Fig. 1, opening on the bottom edge of the top member for registration with the screw 32 inside of the knob 34 whereby the latter is alway accessible. Said top or cover member 12 has an opening 59 at the forward end, Fig. 4, which can be closed by a removable sliding door 60 slidable in tracks 61 at both sides of said opening with portions of said tracks on the top and bottom members 12 and 11, respectively. p

The top wall of the cover member 12 also has an opening 62 therein, Fig. 2, at the forward end of said cover member so as to be in communication with the end opening 59 and said top opening 62 is closable by a longitudinally sliding panel 63 slidable in tracks 64 at both sides of the top opening 62 a considerable distance towards the rear end of the cover member 12 for accommodating the panel 63'when in its open position. The panel has a knob 65 thereon for easy manipulation of said panel.

Likewise on the top of the cover member 12 at the rear end thereof is a small transverse opening 66, Fig. 2, through which the terminal of the pointer 35 is visible and along one of the longer edges of said opening is a scale 67 mounted on the top wall of said cover member with which said pointer cooperates to indicate the position of the belt 30 on the cones through the medium of the belt shifting mechanism.

For transporting the apparatus the pulls 53 are drawn rearwardly and fastened to their respective pins 57 which will retract the drum sticks and the latter are then flexed backwardly until they are positioned within the case and the stick heads or hammers 43 underlie the top wall of the cover member. Finally the end and top openings are closed by their door and panel respectively and the apparatus is in condition for transportation.

To employ the apparatus for beating a drum said drum and apparatus are placed in adjacent endwise relation with the head of the drum in position to be struck by the stick hammers as said sticks are pulled outwardly or forwardly by the springs the panel 63 is slid back, the door 60 removed and the drum sticks released so as to dprotrude through the communicating openings 59 an 62.

The motor is now connected with a source of electricity through the medium of the conductor cord, as is well known, and the current turned on when desired. The motor will drive the first cone 26 at a slow speed through Worm 17, worm gear 18, shaft 19, small sprocket 20, chain 22 and large sprocket 23 while motion will be transmitted through the shiftable belt 30 to the second cone 27 and thence through the pulley 40 and belt 81 to the wheels 39, 38 on the shaft 36. Assuming that the pulls 53 have been released the drum sticks will be drawn outwardly and the feet 44 will be in operative positions in the paths of travel of the rollers 43 on the wheels associated with the respective drum sticks.

Each time the rollers 43 engage the feet 44 of the drum sticks said feet will temporarily be depressed to retract said drum sticks and expand the springs 50 whereas upon travel of the rollers past the free ends of said feet they, along with the drum sticks, will be released and the springs will draw the sticks outwardly towards the drum head and stopped but because of the resiliency of said sticks the hammers will strike and then recede slightlv to permit the drum head to vibrate.

Only one drum stick is employed for playing the drum at one time and the pull connected to the stick which is not to be utilized is drawn rearwardly and attached to its respective pin 57 thus temporarily retracting the sec,- ond stick and removing the foot thereof from the path of travel of the associated roller or rollers 43 to inactivate the stick which is not to be used at the preselected time.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claim Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

In an electrically operated player for drums, a case having communicating openings in one end and the top of said case, separate means to close said openings, 21 motor in the bottom of'said case, a player shaft journalled in bearings located in the bottom of said case, means for transmitting motion from the motor to said player shaft, flexible drum sticks hinged in the bottom of said case and projectable through the case openings adjacent the player shaft and having hammers on the outer free ends thereof, said drum sticks capable of being flexed for insertion within the case, feet projecting inwardly from the drum sticks, roller means on said player shaft to strike the feet for intermittently retracting the drum sticks, and springs to resiliently urge the drum sticks forwardly to strike the head of a drum positioned adjacent said drum sticks, the means on the player shaft to intermittently retract the drum sticks consisting of a pair of wheels on the player shaft, two inwardly projecting trunmom on one Wheel and a single inwardly projecting trunnion on the other wheel, and rollers on all of said trunntons to contact the feet of the respective drum sticks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS issue of Electronics, vol. 25, No.8. 

